Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 11,174
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Quote:
For a more recent comparison, we can look to Katy Perry. Back in 2010, that same Grigordias New York magazine piece likened Perry to one of the "rising talents unable to push through to superstardom." In 2014, "Roar" beat out "Applause" as part of Perry's ever-swelling collection of hits. Perry's timeline and approach to stardom make her the ultimate foil for Gaga. Where Gaga steeped herself in meaning and pretension, Perry stands for nothing. Her songs are not anymore about her than they are about the 13-year-old girl in Tulsa who really does feel like a plastic bag. As Rich Juzwiak wrote after her Super Bowl performance, "[It's unclear] Katy Perry has anything to say, any unique perspective, any capacity to challenge or surprise, any persona beyond vaguely goofy and occasionally sentimental."
In looking at all three we see where Madonna and Perry have maintained their fame while Gaga has waned. Perry is a sort of a vessel for the pop-culture machine, where Madonna imbues artistry into the artifice of her persona, but both embrace the manufactured nature of their stardom. We know that these figures are created for us, almost as if in a "Josie And The Pussycats" lab. Gaga didn't fail because she is inauthentic -- all pop stars are -- but because she refused to embrace the reality of her act. As an icon of the millennial pop, Gaga may never truly be "over," but until she can channel the authentic inauthenticity we see in Perry and Madonna, let's hope she has enough room for that meat dress in her freezer.
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Lauren Duca dragged Fadga hard.
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